# Ethereum

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪˈθɪəɹiəm/ · frequency rank #22,078

## Definitions
1. An open source, blockchain-based cryptocurrency network, that features smart contracts.
2. Ether, the cryptocurrency used in that network.

## Etymology
Coined by Russian-Canadian computer scientist Vitalik Buterin after browsing a list of fictional elements on Wikipedia; based on ether.

## Easily confused with
- **ethereal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ethereal-vs-ethereum)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ehtereum`, `etehreum`, `etheerum`, `etheremu`, `ethereumm`, `etherreum`, `etheruem`, `ethhereum`, `ethreeum`, `etthereum`, `tehereum`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ethereum